6 minute read
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Become a friend of the JCC today
As we prepare to light the Hanukkah candles, and move towards the end of the 2022 calendar year, we here at the JCC of the Lehigh Valley want to wish you and your family much joy, happiness and good health. The newly dedicated Hammel Campus is a vibrant and safe place offering high quality education and childcare, fitness, recreational, aquatics, cultural arts and family programs for everyone. In total, we now serve thousands of individuals on an annual basis and strive to continue to engage our community, expand our impact, and meet the ever-changing needs of families throughout the Lehigh Valley.
We sincerely hope that you will choose to become a Friend of the J this year and support our vital year-end fundraising efforts. The impact that our JCC has on so many lives is remarkable, and your financial support is critical in ensuring that it is able to continue. Through past generous donations, our JCC has been able to impact so many individuals and families within our community.
We are grateful to be surrounded by such a supportive and engaged community, and we hope we can count on you to be our Friend!
Sincerely,
Eric Lightman Jeff Fleischaker Executive Director President
Hanukkah is on the horizon Hanukkah is on the horizon
Jackie Weiss Jackie Weiss Early Childhood and Jewish
Early Childhood and Jewish Education Coordinator
Education Coordinator
Hanukkah is an eightday celebration that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over King Antiochus IV and his soldiers. After their victory, the Maccabees rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem. A new menorah was built, but there was only a tiny jar of oil, which looked like enough to last for a day. However, a great miracle happened! The oil lasted for eight whole days.
For that reason, a candle on the menorah or Hanukkiya is lit for each of the eight nights of the holiday to commemorate the miracle. For that reason, Hanukkah is referred to as The Festival of Lights! It is a custom to light the menorah near a window, where it can be easily seen, and each night, the light from the candles continues to grow, which serves as a wonderful reminder to me that hope never fades, it can only grow stronger.
Hanukkah is a favorite Jewish holiday of many children because it is a custom for kids to receive gifts for all eight nights! In addition, many delicious traditional foods are made on Hanukkah. Potato pancakes or latkes, jelly donuts, and chocolate coins, known as Hanukkah gelt, are mainstays that the entire family can enjoy! In a heated debate that many Jews find themselves on the opposite side of, it is a question of whether latkes go better with applesauce or sour cream. While we won’t take sides in this article, there are cases for both!
Another staple is the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side that stand for the phrase “a great miracle happened there,” with “there” referring to Israel (Fun fact, in Israel the letters are different with “here” replacing “there!”). Traditionally, games of dreidel are played for stashes of Hanukkah gelt, with the winner receiving a pile of chocolate coins.
Hanukkah is an eightday celebration that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over King Antiochus IV and his soldiers. After their victory, the Maccabees rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem. A new menorah was built, but there was only a tiny jar of oil, which looked like enough to last for a day. However, a great miracle happened! The oil lasted for eight whole days.
For that reason, a candle on the menorah or Hanukkiya is lit for each of the eight nights of the holiday to commemorate the miracle. with games, crafts tables, For that reason, Hanukkah is doughnuts, hot latkes and referred to as The Festival of cocoa, live entertainment, and Lights! It is a custom to light a dance party! Register online the menorah near a window, at lvjcc.org/SpecialEvents or where it can be easily seen, call the JCC at 610-435-3571. and each night, the light We hope to see you there from the candles continues and wish everyone a chag to grow, which serves as a sameach!
Hanukkah is a favorite Jewish holiday of many children because it is a custom for kids to receive gifts for all eight nights! In addition, many delicious traditional foods are made on Hanukkah. Potato pancakes or latkes, jelly donuts, and chocolate coins, known as Hanukkah gelt, are mainstays that the entire family can enjoy! In a heated debate that many Jews find themselves on the opposite side of, it is a question of whether latkes go better with applesauce or sour cream. While we won’t take sides in this article, there are cases for both!
Another staple is the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side that stand for the phrase “a great miracle happened there,” with “there” referring to Israel (Fun fact, in Israel the letters are different with “here” replacing “there!”). Traditionally, games of dreidel are played for stashes of Hanukkah gelt, with the winner receiving a pile of chocolate coins.
The JCC of the Lehigh Valley will be celebrating Hanukkah with our annual Family Hanukkah Celebration and Community Candle Lighting on Sunday, December 18 from 3pm-5pm. We will be celebrating in style with games, crafts tables, doughnuts, hot latkes and cocoa, live entertainment, and a dance party! Register online at lvjcc.org/SpecialEvents or call the JCC at 610-435-3571.
We hope to see you there and wish everyone a chag sameach!
Stagemakers cast explores indigenous culture Stagemakers cast explores indigenous culture
Heather Lavin
Program Director
The cast of Disney’s “Moana Jr.” wowed the audience and was able to fully embrace their roles with the help of PBS39 and the Museum of Indian Culture. Stagemakers would like to thank PBS39 for their support of the staff’s work to educate the cast about indigenous cultures and lifestyles. PBS39 provided educational resources based on the series and character Molly of Denali. In addition, the organization funded the cast’s workshop with the Museum of Indian Culture’s educator Christine Applegate, who taught indigenous life skills and advised on the production’s dramaturgy.
Heather Lavin
The cast of Disney’s “Moana Jr.” nets which were used for props wowed the audience and was able and created masks and symbolic to fully embrace their roles with stamps to hand-stamp linen, which the help of PBS39 and the Museum became part of the costumes for the production.
of Indian Culture. Stagemakers would like to thank PBS39 for their support of the staff’s work to educate the cast about indigenous cultures and lifestyles. PBS39 provided educational resources based on the series and character Molly of Denali. In addition, the organization funded the cast’s workshop with the Museum of Indian Culture’s educator Christine Applegate, who taught indigenous life skills and advised on the production’s dramaturgy. Participants worked on hand weaving baskets, fishing line, and nets which were used for props and created masks and symbolic stamps to hand-stamp linen, which became part of the costumes for the production.
